The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1887-10-27
TORPEDO FISH.
The Electricity in Them Will Knock
Man Down.
How n Savannah Athlete Tried to Pick Ono
Up on Bet-The Shocks hvesti-
gated by Scientists Curious
Results shown.


On the beach of Tybce, the other
day, an old fisherman in oilskins was
unloading boat that had been full OF
fish, when n lusty young man clad in
white trousers and white flannel
shire. met the old fellows eye.
You look like likely hefter !"
called out the old fisherman, his hands
and arms meanwhile falling to the
perpendicular and a merry twinkle
taking possession of his eyes.
"A likely whatPn rather Indignantly
rejoined the youth.
"a likely hefter-a chap who can
lift heap" was the reply.
YES; am considered pretty strong
in the Savannah Athletic Club" was
the answer
did you ever lift much fish?n asked
the old fellow, throwing a huge netful
of thinkers on the dock. and looking
his companion over with critical
eye.
Il never saw the fish / couldn't
lift"
The fisherman thrust his hand into
his pocket, from which, after violent
struggle and much inyective, he hauled
out very fat light leather pocket
book, that was closed with strap and
piece of rope-yarh. He took from it
clean ten-dollar bill aud said: I'm
going on eighty-one years old next
muster day. but I'll bet you ten dol
lars even you can't lift fish that !
can.
where's your fishPn asked the
youth.
"Well, TIL tell you, Here's fish,"
and he poked among the thinkers and
pointed to large, solid and skate
like fish in the bottom of the dory.
."Lats see; it's about five foot up to
the dock. I'll bet you the ten dollars
you cant toss the fish up there"
81 don't want to take your money"
replied the young man. magnanimous-
ly, rs number of spectators drew
around. "But if you've got half n
dozen of the fish, string 'em all to-
gether and give me something worth
doing. I've lifted 500 pounds before
breakfast"
"Oh, yes, I've heard tell of YOU"
said the old man, somewhat warmly.
'You're the man that ate piece of
rubber hose for breakfast. and didn'
find out it wasn't sausage till some
body told you. See that thumb nail?n
he asked, holding up curious stub
with horny growth upon it "Well,
served prentice once to a box
maker and used to put in all the
screws with that nail and pull 'em
out with my teeth when they broke
off. You know me. and I'll stick to it
you can't heave that fish up TO the
dock, and there's the money"
The Savannah athlete, thus called
upon, deposited ten dollars with
well-kn own gentleman who had joined
the party, and went down the ladder
into the boat, while the old fisherman
climbed up on the dock to watch the
feat.
Stand back therc!' shouted the
boss tosser, rolling up his sleeves.
This fish might hit you, old man,
and knock some OF the blow out of
you.''
.Heave away" responded the man
In oil-skins, tipping wink at the
crowd in general.
The young man now stepped into
The dory and poked away the tinkers-
small mackerel-that were sliding
about. Standing on the edge of the
boat he stopped down, grasped the
skate-like fish and lifted, raising it
about foot. Then. uttering yell
lie staggered moment and fell with
a Resembling splash into the water
nearly capsizing the boat in accom-
plishing the feat, which was received
with shouts of laughter from the dock,
the old fisherman fairly dancing a
hornpipe on the rail,
"What' the matter with you?n he
shouted, rs the unfortunate athlete
scrambled into the dory again, swear
ing like u pirate. Trying to upset
the boat. are youp"
w llO olIuCh OOllltDOOl SaNt
me knock on the neck just as ! was
lifting"
Nonsense cried nearly every
man in the crowd. "You WASH
touched"
"Tll take my oath felt something
hit ME. If this is Il skin game | want
10 know it.. Bracing himself firmly
in The boat, he again grasred the fish
with both hands and raised it three
ieet, and then fish, athlete and all
went backward among the thinkers
Man. fish. oars and bailers were mixed
up for moment At last the Savan-
nah 'hefterH made break for the
dock, and. once upon it, sank down
upon pile of boards. He was as
white as a sheet and was covered with
scales from head to foot.
.Scnd for a doctorl" he gasped. as
the meu crowded around